Traditional state powers put on a show in the quarterfinals

Brian Jerzak

November 13, 2021 @ 09:25 PM

In a game that deserved to be in the state finals and not the state quarter-finals, Mankato West and St. Thomas Academy went toe-to-toe on a snow-covered field. The two state powers went blow for blow until the game’s final play. When Mankato West’s Peyton Goettlicher picked off a desperation heave with no time on the clock, the Scarlets secured a hard-fought 21-14 victory and a date in the Class AAAAA semi-finals. With points likely to be hard to come by, the Scarlets’ defense was the first to flex. The middle of the West defense stuffed a run on fourth and short giving the ball to its offense. West could not take advantage as the Cadets’ defense stood tall. The Scarlets would get another opportunity on their next possession, and they made it count. Facing a third and five, quarterback Zander Dittbenner Zander Dittbenner 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Mankato-West | 2022 State MN threw deep to Goettlicher. The pass was right on Goettlicher’s hands, and he sprinted through the falling snowflakes for a 62-yard touchdown. The Cadets’ offense, which had not put together a sustained drive in the first quarter, started the second quarter with a bang. Running back Savion Hart Savion Hart 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Saint Thomas Academy | 2024 State MN got onto the edge of the defense and pulled the Cadets to within one point with a 47-yard touchdown run. The extra point tied the game at seven. On the next offensive play, St. Thomas was back in business when Cadets’ safety Jake Borman Jake Borman 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Saint Thomas Academy | 2023 State MN intercepted an overthrown ball to give his offense the ball in Scarlets’ territory. STA – primarily because of some self-imposed problems – found themselves behind the sticks and could not even turn the pick into a first down before turning the ball back to Mankato West on a turnover on downs. With their defense bailing them out, West’s offense didn’t need to be bailed out on the next drive. Dittbenner threw deep again – this time to – 41 yards and an extra point later, West was back on top 14-7. The Cadets’ running game started going late in the second quarter. Hart ripped off two big chunks of yardage, and then running mate moved the sticks to set up a twenty-yard run by Hart. With the Cadets’ offense moving, West defensive lineman Gibson Blackstad stuffed a run up the middle, setting up a second and long. Forced to pass, the Cadets threw into the end zone. Goettlicher – now on the defensive side of the ball – grabbed the pass in the end zone, ending the Cadet threat. West’s running game picked up a couple of first downs, and then Dittbenner threw deep down the seam. Goettlicher got lit up by Borman but held onto the ball for twenty yards. West was now in a position to extend their lead, but Borman picked off his second pass of the first half – this time on the goal line. STA’s offense – as it had a few times in the first half – shot itself in the foot again. A poorly executed kick return on the second-half kickoff forced the Cadets to start deep in their own territory. On third and long, West’s Carl Friesen grabbed an under-thrown pass – setting his offense up in plus territory. West used the running game to put themselves in scoring position, but when they faced a fourth down, they returned to the passing game. Off a play-action fake, Dittbenner threw his third touchdown pass of the game – this time to on a little dump pass over the middle – to Brady Haugum. The fourth-down conversion gave the Scarlets a 14-point lead halfway through the third quarter. Mankato West would get the ball back but would promptly fumble the ball back to the Cadets as Mark Rogalski Mark Rogalski 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Saint Thomas Academy | 2023 State MN recovered a fumble. STA’s running game helped set up the passing game, and quarterback Maximus Sims found on the move for a 24-yard touchdown catch on the first play of the fourth quarter. After a defensive stop, Adebayo and Hart continued to grind out yards on the ground. However, Friesen had seen just about enough of the Cadets’ running game. He stuffed a third-down run forcing a fourth and six with four minutes to play. With the season on the line, Sims kept his team’s hopes alive with a perfect pass to TJ Adams on a deep-out route for a first down. The season was again on the line for the Cadets, just three plays later. This time, the Scarlets’ defense took care of business. got immediate penetration and stuffed the inside run short of the yard to gain. When running back broke through the first level of the Cadets’ defense, and he was off to the races. The fifty-yard run appeared to put the game away, but timeouts and one more Cadets’ defensive stand kept the game alive. With less than a minute to play, STA was able to move the ball out to mid-field, but with the ball fluttering through the snowflakes, Goettlicher’s second interception of the afternoon would end a great high school football game and send the still undefeated Mankato West Scarlets into the state semi-finals.